THOMSON is a manufacturer of mechanical motion components with over 80 years of history, pioneering anti-friction linear technology and maintaining industry leadership. The company offers a broad range of linear motion control solutions, including linear ball bushing bearings, round rail guide systems, profile rail bearings and guides, ball screws, lead screws, and electric linear actuators. It is a globally recognized and trusted brand for its high-quality, innovative, and reliable products, serving diverse industries worldwide. Acquired by Regal Rexnord Corporation in 2023, the company's capabilities in providing integrated system solutions combining control, drive, motor, power transmission, and precision linear motion technologies have been enhanced.THOMSONisamanufacturerofmechanicalmotioncomponentswithover80yearsofhistory,pioneeringanti-frictionlineartechnologyandmaintainingindustryleadership.Thecompanyoffersabroadrangeoflinearmotioncontrolsolutions,includinglinearballbushingbearings,roundrailguidesystems,profilerailbearingsandguides,ballscrews,leadscrews,andelectriclinearactuators.Itisagloballyrecognizedandtrustedbrandforitshigh-quality,innovative,andreliableproducts,servingdiverseindustriesworldwide.AcquiredbyRegalRexnordCorporationin2023,thecompany'scapabilitiesinprovidingintegratedsystemsolutionscombiningcontrol,drive,motor,powertransmission,andprecisionlinearmotiontechnologieshavebeenenhanced.
Key Products/TechnologiesKeyProducts/Technologies
Linear Ball Bushing Bearings: A core product of anti-friction linear technology invented by John B. Thomson Sr. over 80 years ago, offering a wide range of bearings and accessories.LinearBallBushingBearings:Acoreproductofanti-frictionlineartechnologyinventedbyJohnB.ThomsonSr.over80yearsago,offeringawiderangeofbearingsandaccessories.
Round Rail Guide Systems: Characterized by self-aligning capabilities and contamination resistance, these systems are robust against parallelism issues or variations in rail height in multi-rail systems.RoundRailGuideSystems:Characterizedbyself-aligningcapabilitiesandcontaminationresistance,thesesystemsarerobustagainstparallelismissuesorvariationsinrailheightinmulti-railsystems.
Profile Rail Bearings & Guides: Solutions suitable for various industrial applications, serving as essential components for precise linear motion.ProfileRailBearings&Guides:Solutionssuitableforvariousindustrialapplications,servingasessentialcomponentsforpreciselinearmotion.
Ball Screws: Pioneered the first recirculating ball screw on a 1955 Chevy and manufactured through a thread rolling process. The company provides various types of ball screw assemblies for high load, high precision, and long life applications.BallScrews:Pioneeredthefirstrecirculatingballscrewona1955Chevyandmanufacturedthroughathreadrollingprocess.Thecompanyprovidesvarioustypesofballscrewassembliesforhighload,highprecision,andlonglifeapplications.
Lead Screws: Offers industry-leading precision lead screw assemblies, including miniature lead screws with diameters as small as 2mm for small-scale applications.LeadScrews:Offersindustry-leadingprecisionleadscrewassemblies,includingminiatureleadscrewswithdiametersassmallas2mmforsmall-scaleapplications.
Electric Linear Actuators: A key product line in production for nearly 60 years, featuring models like Electrak® HD, Electrak® LL, and Electrak® XD. The Electrak® HD offers high performance with loads up to 25,000N, 100% duty cycle, strokes up to 1200mm, speeds up to 75mm/s, and IP69K/IP67/IP66 protection ratings. Onboard controls and position-based synchronization for up to eight actuators enable precise control.ElectricLinearActuators:Akeyproductlineinproductionfornearly60years,featuringmodelslikeElectrak®HD,Electrak®LL,andElectrak®XD.TheElectrak®HDoffershighperformancewithloadsupto25,000N,100%dutycycle,strokesupto1200mm,speedsupto75mm/s,andIP69K/IP67/IP66protectionratings.Onboardcontrolsandposition-basedsynchronizationforuptoeightactuatorsenableprecisecontrol.
Stepper Motor Linear Actuators: Compact solutions integrating a hybrid stepper motor and a precision lead screw in one envelope. Patented Taper-Lock technology ensures quick, secure, and properly aligned connections.StepperMotorLinearActuators:Compactsolutionsintegratingahybridsteppermotorandaprecisionleadscrewinoneenvelope.PatentedTaper-Locktechnologyensuresquick,secure,andproperlyalignedconnections.
Lifting Columns: Robust screw jacks with load-handling capacities up to 100 tons, configurable for individual use or synchronized motorized arrangements.LiftingColumns:Robustscrewjackswithload-handlingcapacitiesupto100tons,configurableforindividualuseorsynchronizedmotorizedarrangements.
Precision Balls: Manufactures and supplies high-quality precision balls with A2LA ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory for measuring size, sphericity, and surface finish.PrecisionBalls:Manufacturesandsupplieshigh-qualityprecisionballswithA2LAISO17025accreditedcalibrationlaboratoryformeasuringsize,sphericity,andsurfacefinish.
Robot Transfer Units (CTU): The Regal Rexnord Movotrak™ CTU is certified by ABB Robotics for seamless integration with GoFa™ cobots as a 7th axis cobot transfer unit.RobotTransferUnits(CTU):TheRegalRexnordMovotrak™CTUiscertifiedbyABBRoboticsforseamlessintegrationwithGoFa™cobotsasa7thaxiscobottransferunit.
Core AdvantagesCoreAdvantages
Broadest Product Portfolio: Possesses the industry's broadest offering of standard mechanical motion technologies, providing diverse guide and drive systems from the smallest to the largest and most robust.BroadestProductPortfolio:Possessestheindustry'sbroadestofferingofstandardmechanicalmotiontechnologies,providingdiverseguideanddrivesystemsfromthesmallesttothelargestandmostrobust.
Customized Solution Capability: Routine provision of modified versions of standard products or white sheet design solutions, with the expertise to customize products to exact customer application specifications.CustomizedSolutionCapability:Routineprovisionofmodifiedversionsofstandardproductsorwhitesheetdesignsolutions,withtheexpertisetocustomizeproductstoexactcustomerapplicationspecifications.
Extensive Experience and Application Expertise: Over 80 years of global application experience, delivering optimal solutions across diverse industries including packaging, factory automation, material handling, medical, clean energy, printing, automotive, machine tools, aerospace, and defense.ExtensiveExperienceandApplicationExpertise:Over80yearsofglobalapplicationexperience,deliveringoptimalsolutionsacrossdiverseindustriesincludingpackaging,factoryautomation,materialhandling,medical,cleanenergy,printing,automotive,machinetools,aerospace,anddefense.
Integrated System Solutions Provider: As part of Regal Rexnord Corporation, the company has a unique ability to integrate control, drive, motor, power transmission, and precision linear motion technologies to offer complete system solutions.IntegratedSystemSolutionsProvider:AspartofRegalRexnordCorporation,thecompanyhasauniqueabilitytointegratecontrol,drive,motor,powertransmission,andprecisionlinearmotiontechnologiestooffercompletesystemsolutions.
Innovative Technology Development: A pioneer in anti-friction linear technology and a continuous leader in linear motion innovation. Recognition for technological innovation includes the 2021 IDEA! Award for its Electrak LL Actuator.InnovativeTechnologyDevelopment:Apioneerinanti-frictionlineartechnologyandacontinuousleaderinlinearmotioninnovation.Recognitionfortechnologicalinnovationincludesthe2021IDEA!AwardforitsElectrakLLActuator.
High Quality and Reliability: Maintains high standards in product quality and environmental management, evidenced by ISO 9001:2015 quality management system and ISO 14001 environmental management system certifications.HighQualityandReliability:Maintainshighstandardsinproductqualityandenvironmentalmanagement,evidencedbyISO9001:2015qualitymanagementsystemandISO14001environmentalmanagementsystemcertifications.
Online Design and Selection Tools: Provides extensive online resources such as Linear Motioneering® tools, 3D CAD models, and product selectors to support customers in optimizing their design processes and enhancing efficiency.OnlineDesignandSelectionTools:ProvidesextensiveonlineresourcessuchasLinearMotioneering®tools,3DCADmodels,andproductselectorstosupportcustomersinoptimizingtheirdesignprocessesandenhancingefficiency.
Target IndustriesTargetIndustries
Mobile Off-Highway: Supplies customized actuators to manufacturers of combines, tractors, bulldozers, trains, and other vehicles.MobileOff-Highway:Suppliescustomizedactuatorstomanufacturersofcombines,tractors,bulldozers,trains,andothervehicles.
Medical & Health: Contributes to the creation of easier-to-use, safer, lighter, smaller, and more precise machines for patients and caregivers.Medical&Health:Contributestothecreationofeasier-to-use,safer,lighter,smaller,andmoreprecisemachinesforpatientsandcaregivers.
Packaging & Converting: Offers unique products that improve quality and productivity while lowering manufacturing costs in the demanding packaging market.Packaging&Converting:Offersuniqueproductsthatimprovequalityandproductivitywhileloweringmanufacturingcostsinthedemandingpackagingmarket.
Food Processing: A perfect partner to the food processing industry due to its wide range of washdown and non-contaminating components.FoodProcessing:Aperfectpartnertothefoodprocessingindustryduetoitswiderangeofwashdownandnon-contaminatingcomponents.
Material Handling: Improves speed, accuracy, and reliability by utilizing its broad range of products in robots, manipulators, lifting aids, and pick-and-place equipment.MaterialHandling:Improvesspeed,accuracy,andreliabilitybyutilizingitsbroadrangeofproductsinrobots,manipulators,liftingaids,andpick-and-placeequipment.
Aerospace & Defense: Provides linear motion technology for high-level applications in commercial and military aircraft, ground defense, and weapon systems.Aerospace&Defense:Provideslinearmotiontechnologyforhigh-levelapplicationsincommercialandmilitaryaircraft,grounddefense,andweaponsystems.
Factory Automation: Offers the broadest range of suitable products for controlling linear motion in any production process.FactoryAutomation:Offersthebroadestrangeofsuitableproductsforcontrollinglinearmotioninanyproductionprocess.
Clean Energy: Supplies standard and customized high-quality products to the fast-growing clean energy market, including solar and wind energy.CleanEnergy:Suppliesstandardandcustomizedhigh-qualityproductstothefast-growingcleanenergymarket,includingsolarandwindenergy.
Machine Tools: Has supplied high-performance lead screws, linear guides, clutches, and brakes to machine tool manufacturers for decades.MachineTools:Hassuppliedhigh-performanceleadscrews,linearguides,clutches,andbrakestomachinetoolmanufacturersfordecades.
Printing: Provides solutions that meet the diverse requirements of the printing industry.Printing:Providessolutionsthatmeetthediverserequirementsoftheprintingindustry.
Automotive: Introduced the first recirculating ball screw on a 1955 Chevy and received the General Motors 'Supplier of the Year' award for its ball screw used in ABS systems.Automotive:Introducedthefirstrecirculatingballscrewona1955ChevyandreceivedtheGeneralMotors'SupplieroftheYear'awardforitsballscrewusedinABSsystems.
Semiconductor Manufacturing: Applies compact linear systems in semiconductor manufacturing equipment requiring high-accuracy linear axes in confined spaces.SemiconductorManufacturing:Appliescompactlinearsystemsinsemiconductormanufacturingequipmentrequiringhigh-accuracylinearaxesinconfinedspaces.
3D Printers: Utilizes compact linear systems for precise linear motion in applications like 3D printers.3DPrinters:Utilizescompactlinearsystemsforpreciselinearmotioninapplicationslike3Dprinters.
Major MarketsMajorMarkets
Maintains engineering and manufacturing facilities for ball screws, linear actuators, and custom systems in Tianjin, China.Maintainsengineeringandmanufacturingfacilitiesforballscrews,linearactuators,andcustomsystemsinTianjin,China.
Operates engineering and manufacturing facilities for ball screws, linear bearings, and shafting in Wolfschlugen, Germany. Also has engineering and manufacturing facilities for linear actuators, linear motion systems, and precision linear actuators in Kristianstad, Sweden.Operatesengineeringandmanufacturingfacilitiesforballscrews,linearbearings,andshaftinginWolfschlugen,Germany.Alsohasengineeringandmanufacturingfacilitiesforlinearactuators,linearmotionsystems,andprecisionlinearactuatorsinKristianstad,Sweden.
Possesses engineering and manufacturing facilities for linear actuators, ball screws, and shafting in Marengo, IL, and Fremont, CA, USA. Also has engineering and manufacturing facilities for linear motion systems, shafting, linear bearings, and custom systems in Tijuana, Mexico. Export records indicate shipments to Mexico.Possessesengineeringandmanufacturingfacilitiesforlinearactuators,ballscrews,andshaftinginMarengo,IL,andFremont,CA,USA.Alsohasengineeringandmanufacturingfacilitiesforlinearmotionsystems,shafting,linearbearings,andcustomsystemsinTijuana,Mexico.ExportrecordsindicateshipmentstoMexico.
Export records indicate shipments to Colombia.ExportrecordsindicateshipmentstoColombia.
Certifications/PatentsCertifications/Patents
ISO 9001:2015: Quality management system certification obtained by its Fremont plant, Marengo plant, and Precision Balls Lab.ISO9001:2015:QualitymanagementsystemcertificationobtainedbyitsFremontplant,Marengoplant,andPrecisionBallsLab.
ISO 14001: Environmental management system certification for its Fremont, Tijuana, Marengo, Kristianstad, and Wolfschlugen plants.ISO14001:EnvironmentalmanagementsystemcertificationforitsFremont,Tijuana,Marengo,Kristianstad,andWolfschlugenplants.
A2LA ISO 17025: Calibration laboratory accreditation for measuring size, sphericity, and surface finish of precision balls.A2LAISO17025:Calibrationlaboratoryaccreditationformeasuringsize,sphericity,andsurfacefinishofprecisionballs.
REACH and RoHS Compliance: Demonstrates commitment to meeting global customer requirements for environmental regulations.REACHandRoHSCompliance:Demonstratescommitmenttomeetingglobalcustomerrequirementsforenvironmentalregulations.
Ball Bushing® Bearing Patent: A foundational invention that pioneered anti-friction linear technology.BallBushing®BearingPatent:Afoundationalinventionthatpioneeredanti-frictionlineartechnology.
Taper-Lock Technology Patent: Applied in stepper motor linear actuators, enabling quick and secure connections.Taper-LockTechnologyPatent:Appliedinsteppermotorlinearactuators,enablingquickandsecureconnections.
Apparatus and Methods for Controlling Hydraulically-Powered Apparatus Patent: U.S. Patent Number 9234582, covering hydraulic system control technology.ApparatusandMethodsforControllingHydraulically-PoweredApparatusPatent:U.S.PatentNumber9234582,coveringhydraulicsystemcontroltechnology.
Load Lock Device Patent: A patent for a load lock device that enhances actuator safety.LoadLockDevicePatent:Apatentforaloadlockdevicethatenhancesactuatorsafety.
Scraper/Wiper Systems Patent: A patent for scraper/wiper systems that improve ball screw performance.Scraper/WiperSystemsPatent:Apatentforscraper/wipersystemsthatimproveballscrewperformance.
2021 IDEA! Award: Received for its Electrak LL Long Life Actuator product.2021IDEA!Award:ReceivedforitsElectrakLLLongLifeActuatorproduct.
General Motors 'Supplier of the Year' Award: Awarded for three consecutive years (1995-1997) for supplying ball screws for ABS systems.GeneralMotors'SupplieroftheYear'Award:Awardedforthreeconsecutiveyears(1995-1997)forsupplyingballscrewsforABSsystems.